'Storybook Christmas' seeks donations to give books to kids

Meredith MoriakMidland Reporter-Telegram

Published 12:45 pm, Saturday, November 19, 2011

Photo: Cindeka Nealy

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Ethan Burgard, 7, takes his copy of "Chicken Little" in this file photo at St. Ann Catholic School. The local Zeta Xi Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International are giving first-graders throughout Midland books as part as part of their annual Storybook Christmas program which has a goal of promoting literacy and reading. Cindeka Nealy/Reporter-Telegram less

Ethan Burgard, 7, takes his copy of "Chicken Little" in this file photo at St. Ann Catholic School. The local Zeta Xi Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International are giving first-graders throughout ... more

Photo: Cindeka Nealy

'Storybook Christmas' seeks donations to give books to kids

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Receiving a book as an early Christmas present has become a rite of passage for Midland County's first-graders, and organizers of "A Storybook Christmas" are asking for donations.

The Zeta Xi chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, a professional honor society of female educators, began donating books to Midland ISD students in 1991.

The donation has grown to include every first-grader in Midland County, including home-school students, during the past 20 years, event co-chairwoman Ann Andrews said.

This year, Michelle Meadows' "Hibernation Station" will be donated to all kids in English classes, and "If I Had A Dragon," a book written in English and Spanish, will be donated to all students in bilingual classes.

Joy Cunningham is the librarian at DeZavala and Milam elementary schools, and she said she sees how excited kids get when they realize the book isn't something they have to give back.

"Many students in Midland probably do not have books at home," Cunningham said. "I always try to choose very interesting books with good illustrations."

Delta Kappa Gamma relies on donations to fund the 2,400 books it plans to give out this year.

"Every year, you wonder if you're going to get enough to make it possible and, somehow, we always do," Andrews said, noting the organization has raised about $7,000 of the needed $10,000.

"We're just a group of 36 ladies who try to raise money to be able to afford these," Cunningham said. "We count on the generosity of people in Midland County."

Andrews' 35 years of teaching experience, especially the past 11 as a reading specialist, taught her how important it is for children to have a book they can call their own.

"It's amazing how even some of the private school kids, those who have had a lot of material things in their life, will say they're so glad to get a book of their own because everything belongs to their brother or sister," Andrews said. "There's nothing like ownership for a child."

Delta Kappa Gamma members will sort books for distribution on Dec. 3 at DeZavala Elementary. Various community members will deliver the books to schools Dec. 5-16, often taking time to read the book to the class, Andrews said.